The thought of Nigeria had always kept me sad not only because of the failure of the Nigerian project but also because of the lacklustre attitude of those at the helm of affairs. No time could be better to address this issue than the 51st independent day anniversary of the federal republic of Nigeria. The sad story is that ninety percent of the Nigerian problem could be attributed to the failure of leadership because it is the responsibility of the leaders to transform a nation or organizations they are assigned to lead. The Nigerian malady seems to have defied every solution because of lack of visionary leaders. Worst still these over surfeited hypocrites have continued to offload the bull shit on this long suffering nation. I am not a medical doctor but I do know too well that if the clinical history of any illness is not known that illness can not be cured. Let’s take a little walk down the memory lane to understand the Nigerian epileptic condition.

As far as I can remember General Gowon told us that the problem we have as a nation is not how to make money but how to manage the available resources. At that point the hospitals were still functioning the roads were motorable salaries were still paid promptly, so there were no strike, children were going to school but there were no infrastructures; we had electricity and water only in the urban areas. Those in the rural areas had to make do with lamp and fetching water from the stream. They had to make do with pit toilets and thatch houses. At a point Gowon invited Chief Jerome Udoji to draw a development program for Nigeria. Udoji recommended among other things in what is popularly known as ‘Udoji award’ that civil servants salary should be increased. The increment of salary and payment of award led to an ostentatious life on the side of Nigerians. Because Nigeria is a consumer nation the wealth of the nation was squandered and the rest went to developed world as the paid money were spent in buying cars and finished goods that Nigeria do not produce. Udoji award logically ushered in inflation as there was so much money in circulation. That was the beginning of the economic blunder that dug the grave of the Nigerian nation.

Gowon left and Murtala came in. We spent the better part of our time, money and resources to liberate South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and the rest of the South African nations then under colonial rule. Our reward as a nation for these magnanimous achievements under the diplomatic soldiering of Joseph Garba is the victimization of Nigerians in these countries today. Nelson Mandela presented the motion for the suspension of Nigeria from commonwealth. They consequences were that we lost subventions and scholarships that accrued from common wealth nations. The common wealth is a composition of 57 countries. For the first time in history Nigeria did not participate in the nation’s cup tournament and miss world contest because those contest were held in South Africa and Mandela then declared that he cannon guarantee the security of Nigerians. Worst still Mandela recognized Abiola as the president elect of Nigeria during the independent celebration in South Africa and that induced Abiola to declare himself the president of Nigeria when he returned back and the consequences is now history. Nobody is insinuating that we should not help our neighbours but the resources wasted for the liberation of these nations were enough to develop Nigeria and make it a better place for all. Murtala initiated the Ajaokuta steal factory and it was destined to cost 2.5 billion dollars then. Until when Babangida appointed professor Ezekwe the technology minister we did not know that we were building a steal factory without flat sheet department. It was like building a steal factory without steal, Ezekwe discovered this colossal error but then the factory had reached a point of no return. Nigerian had already wasted so much money in the project. Murtala also initiated the Abuja project. The regime of Murtala was brought to an unfortunate end by Dimka through the help of the colonial masters.

Murtala left and Mathew Aremu Obasanjo entered. Obasanjo invited general commander O. P. Fingesi to come and spearhead the greatest naira jamboree in mankind. The called it FESTAC. We built the FESTAC village in one month and the world were invited to partake in the sharing of Nigerian cake. At that point it was already clear that Nigeria was suffering from squander mania. As that was not enough Obasanjo embarked on the indigenization decree to liberate far away South Africa, Nigeria sent away all the foreign companies and Barclays bank became first and what have you. From that faithful day till date no Nigerian can travel anywhere without a visa. Obasanjo chased away all the foreign investors from Nigeria only to squander our money to go and beg them to come back. The pain was that these measures were not taken for the Nigerian interest but to give South Africa independent. Nigeria the pride of African nation became a leper harbinger. No responsible leadership will mortgage the destiny of the people he was appointed to lead for another nation. Obasanjo partly spearheaded the burial of the Nigerian nation.

Obasanjo left and the civilian came in. Then the mad rush to Abuja. When Murtala drew the development plan of Abuja it was to take 25yrs but Shagari decided to take us there in 2yrs and 6mths. No known nation had ever built a national capital in 10yrs talk less of 2.6 yrs. Alhaji Tahir was anointed to head the naira distribution. There was so much corruption that the military intervened. Zik said he can not congratulate Shagari neither did Awolowo because he rigged them out. So when the military came back they were welcomed.

Shagari left and Buhari entered the scene. The money Shagari left for building of Abuja was converted by Buhari for the importation of 46 jaguar jet fighters from Russia then USSR. Even a nation in the midst of war does not import 46 jet fighters in a day. Then we witnessed the war against indiscipline. Nigerians were ordered not to urinate outside without the provision of public toilet. We witnessed the diplomatic suitcases and Onalope Soleye the dean department of sociology was appointed to manage our economy as the finance minister. When I look back to those days I wonder what a sociologist is doing in the finance ministry. The government was short lived.

Buhari left and Babangida took over. At that point the economy had reached the Golgotha. Nigeria had no more money to spend. The economy was completely decayed. Babangida brought in Dr. Idika Kalu from the World Bank to tell us the hard truth. Dr. Chu Okongwu managed the national planning. That was the first time we had competent hands to manage the economy. We realized that not only petroleum product but even naira was subsidised. A Volkswagen Beatle was sold then at 1,500 naira while a Peugeot 504 sold at 7000 naira. The Nigerian economy witnessed the first and second tier foreign exchange market. The naira was allowed to find its level and foreign exchange market. At a point naira was worth less than a toilet paper. Nigerians were made to face the austerity measure. The market was liberalized in trying to correct the errors of the past especially the one committed by Obasanjo. Then we had the oil wind fall but Babangida had initiated the political agenda with the help of Professor S. J. Cookey a fine political scientist. Everything worked fine until the presidential election. We still remember the option A4. Due to pressures from the failed election Babangida had to leave the scene but he left a descent political institution. Dr Jerry Gana through MANSER had already sensitized Nigerians.

Babangida left and Shonekan entered. All the political institutions were at place but Shonekan lacked the will and might to consolidate on the political agenda of the previous administration. Abacha entered the arena because of the clamour by Nigerian for a saviour. His mercantile policy angered the west and Nigeria was boycotted. Nigerians witnessed the one million match. Abacha was the only qualified Nigerian to lead, he therefore have to transform from a military head to democratic president. Again the resources of the nation was wasted for a transformation agenda. Nigeria once again transformed into a pariah nation. Every Nigerian turned a sycophant. Ekwueme and the G34 came in to save the country. The regime of Abacha was brought to a tragic end in a yet uncleared circumstance. Abubarkar stayed for time enough to usher in the second coming of Obasanjo.

Obasanjo spent more money in the changing of the leadership of the national assembly than any other government in the history of mankind. That administration could be easily remembered for the Ghana must go bags at the national assembly. The remaining of the national resources was wasted to generate electricity. How can one take Obasanjo serous for his promise to give Nigeria steady light when his minister for mines and power was a lawyer Bola Ige. Obasanjo made light the priority of his government without really wanting to give us light. The sorry tale of the senate committee explains this fact. The better part of his government was spent outside Nigeria or better still inside aircraft junketing to attract foreign investors, the same investors he sent out of Nigeria. At a point Obasanjo spent 236 days out of 365 days in a year outside the country he was meant to lead. The only good thing in Obasanjo’s second coming was Okonjo Iweala and she cancelled our huge debt. Thanks God almighty that his third term agenda did not work.

Until Captain Billy Eko Jean was caught at the JFK airport the most lucrative rout of Nigerian airways we did not know that he was a Ghanaian. Until the deportation of Shugaba during the presidential election by Shagari we did not know that he was from Niger republic. Until the deportation of Patrick Wilmot to Jamaica he was a darling at Ahmadu Bello University. Until the maitasine massacre at Kano nobody told us that their leader Mohammed was from Cameroun. Until the crashing of the Faulkner 28 aircraft at Enugu airport we did not know that the captain was a Ghanaian. At a point it was rumoured that Ibrahim Comatose the former IG was a Ghanaian. Despite these episodes our government have not considered it wise to draw a comprehensive list of Nigerians.

How can any responsible leader draw a program for a country that he does not know how many they are? There is neither registration of birth nor death. Nigeria is the only country where a human being will die and decay along the road. It takes nothing to install one computer in every local government to start gradual record keeping of Nigerians and stop the gigantic census project that is organized at intervals without result. The people that die in road accident every day are more than the people that die of illness every month. We spend more money for HIV campaign every year than in the maintaining of Nigerian roads. We have no light, no portable water, no roads, no security yet we pretend that investors will come to invest in Nigeria. Investors are not looking for chaotic situations, they are looking for stable government, open market economy, conducive social and economic conditions and basic amenities to invest. Until we have these things in place the wild goose chase after investor will never materialise. Just yesterday Goodluck said that we have 25,000 Nigerian doctors in United States alone. I wonder if Goodluck is so naïve to understand that if these doctors have accepted to live in foreign land under the harsh realities, the thought of investor coming to Nigerian is an illusion. My fear then is that Olusegun Aganga the investment minister does not understand these simple principles of international trade probably because he was trained as an accountant. The blatant truth is that we have lost the train and at 51 the Nigerian project is as best a failed one. The succeeding generation are the worst losers as they are going to inherit this chattered nation. Though they have no blame but they have no choice. Nothing is being done to leave a bequeathing legacy for the succeeding generation and the mere thought that they will inherit this disaster is traumatic. Tragically nobody has a choice in the decision of where he will be born. We are all victims of the circumstances of our birth.

Good time.

Paul Okoye

Visit me @ www.paulokoye.com

Paul advise me, Hw can I save my future and my childrens future

PaulOkoye1:
The thought of Nigeria had always kept me sad not only because of the failure of the Nigerian project but also because of the lacklustre attitude of those at the helm of affairs. No time could be better to address this issue than the 51st independent day anniversary of the federal republic of Nigeria. The sad story is that ninety percent of the Nigerian problem could be attributed to the failure of leadership because it is the responsibility of the leaders to transform a nation or organizations they are assigned to lead. The Nigerian malady seems to have defied every solution because of lack of visionary leaders. Worst still these over surfeited hypocrites have continued to offload the bull shit on this long suffering nation. I am not a medical doctor but I do know too well that if the clinical history of any illness is not known that illness can not be cured. Let’s take a little walk down the memory lane to understand the Nigerian epileptic condition.

As far as I can remember General Gowon told us that the problem we have as a nation is not how to make money but how to manage the available resources. At that point the hospitals were still functioning the roads were motorable salaries were still paid promptly, so there were no strike, children were going to school but there were no infrastructures; we had electricity and water only in the urban areas. Those in the rural areas had to make do with lamp and fetching water from the stream. They had to make do with pit toilets and thatch houses. At a point Gowon invited Chief Jerome Udoji to draw a development program for Nigeria. Udoji recommended among other things in what is popularly known as ‘Udoji award’ that civil servants salary should be increased. The increment of salary and payment of award led to an ostentatious life on the side of Nigerians. Because Nigeria is a consumer nation the wealth of the nation was squandered and the rest went to developed world as the paid money were spent in buying cars and finished goods that Nigeria do not produce. Udoji award logically ushered in inflation as there was so much money in circulation. That was the beginning of the economic blunder that dug the grave of the Nigerian nation.

Gowon left and Murtala came in. We spent the better part of our time, money and resources to liberate South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and the rest of the South African nations then under colonial rule. Our reward as a nation for these magnanimous achievements under the diplomatic soldiering of Joseph Garba is the victimization of Nigerians in these countries today. Nelson Mandela presented the motion for the suspension of Nigeria from commonwealth. They consequences were that we lost subventions and scholarships that accrued from common wealth nations. The common wealth is a composition of 57 countries. For the first time in history Nigeria did not participate in the nation’s cup tournament and miss world contest because those contest were held in South Africa and Mandela then declared that he cannon guarantee the security of Nigerians. Worst still Mandela recognized Abiola as the president elect of Nigeria during the independent celebration in South Africa and that induced Abiola to declare himself the president of Nigeria when he returned back and the consequences is now history. Nobody is insinuating that we should not help our neighbours but the resources wasted for the liberation of these nations were enough to develop Nigeria and make it a better place for all. Murtala initiated the Ajaokuta steal factory and it was destined to cost 2.5 billion dollars then. Until when Babangida appointed professor Ezekwe the technology minister we did not know that we were building a steal factory without flat sheet department. It was like building a steal factory without steal, Ezekwe discovered this colossal error but then the factory had reached a point of no return. Nigerian had already wasted so much money in the project. Murtala also initiated the Abuja project. The regime of Murtala was brought to an unfortunate end by Dimka through the help of the colonial masters.

Murtala left and Mathew Aremu Obasanjo entered. Obasanjo invited general commander O. P. Fingesi to come and spearhead the greatest naira jamboree in mankind. The called it FESTAC. We built the FESTAC village in one month and the world were invited to partake in the sharing of Nigerian cake. At that point it was already clear that Nigeria was suffering from squander mania. As that was not enough Obasanjo embarked on the indigenization decree to liberate far away South Africa, Nigeria sent away all the foreign companies and Barclays bank became first and what have you. From that faithful day till date no Nigerian can travel anywhere without a visa. Obasanjo chased away all the foreign investors from Nigeria only to squander our money to go and beg them to come back. The pain was that these measures were not taken for the Nigerian interest but to give South Africa independent. Nigeria the pride of African nation became a leper harbinger. No responsible leadership will mortgage the destiny of the people he was appointed to lead for another nation. Obasanjo partly spearheaded the burial of the Nigerian nation.

Obasanjo left and the civilian came in. Then the mad rush to Abuja. When Murtala drew the development plan of Abuja it was to take 25yrs but Shagari decided to take us there in 2yrs and 6mths. No known nation had ever built a national capital in 10yrs talk less of 2.6 yrs. Alhaji Tahir was anointed to head the naira distribution. There was so much corruption that the military intervened. Zik said he can not congratulate Shagari neither did Awolowo because he rigged them out. So when the military came back they were welcomed.

Shagari left and Buhari entered the scene. The money Shagari left for building of Abuja was converted by Buhari for the importation of 46 jaguar jet fighters from Russia then USSR. Even a nation in the midst of war does not import 46 jet fighters in a day. Then we witnessed the war against indiscipline. Nigerians were ordered not to urinate outside without the provision of public toilet. We witnessed the diplomatic suitcases and Onalope Soleye the dean department of sociology was appointed to manage our economy as the finance minister. When I look back to those days I wonder what a sociologist is doing in the finance ministry. The government was short lived.

Buhari left and Babangida took over. At that point the economy had reached the Golgotha. Nigeria had no more money to spend. The economy was completely decayed. Babangida brought in Dr. Idika Kalu from the World Bank to tell us the hard truth. Dr. Chu Okongwu managed the national planning. That was the first time we had competent hands to manage the economy. We realized that not only petroleum product but even naira was subsidised. A Volkswagen Beatle was sold then at 1,500 naira while a Peugeot 504 sold at 7000 naira. The Nigerian economy witnessed the first and second tier foreign exchange market. The naira was allowed to find its level and foreign exchange market. At a point naira was worth less than a toilet paper. Nigerians were made to face the austerity measure. The market was liberalized in trying to correct the errors of the past especially the one committed by Obasanjo. Then we had the oil wind fall but Babangida had initiated the political agenda with the help of Professor S. J. Cookey a fine political scientist. Everything worked fine until the presidential election. We still remember the option A4. Due to pressures from the failed election Babangida had to leave the scene but he left a descent political institution. Dr Jerry Gana through MANSER had already sensitized Nigerians.

Babangida left and Shonekan entered. All the political institutions were at place but Shonekan lacked the will and might to consolidate on the political agenda of the previous administration. Abacha entered the arena because of the clamour by Nigerian for a saviour. His mercantile policy angered the west and Nigeria was boycotted. Nigerians witnessed the one million match. Abacha was the only qualified Nigerian to lead, he therefore have to transform from a military head to democratic president. Again the resources of the nation was wasted for a transformation agenda. Nigeria once again transformed into a pariah nation. Every Nigerian turned a sycophant. Ekwueme and the G34 came in to save the country. The regime of Abacha was brought to a tragic end in a yet uncleared circumstance. Abubarkar stayed for time enough to usher in the second coming of Obasanjo.

Obasanjo spent more money in the changing of the leadership of the national assembly than any other government in the history of mankind. That administration could be easily remembered for the Ghana must go bags at the national assembly. The remaining of the national resources was wasted to generate electricity. How can one take Obasanjo serous for his promise to give Nigeria steady light when his minister for mines and power was a lawyer Bola Ige. Obasanjo made light the priority of his government without really wanting to give us light. The sorry tale of the senate committee explains this fact. The better part of his government was spent outside Nigeria or better still inside aircraft junketing to attract foreign investors, the same investors he sent out of Nigeria. At a point Obasanjo spent 236 days out of 365 days in a year outside the country he was meant to lead. The only good thing in Obasanjo’s second coming was Okonjo Iweala and she cancelled our huge debt. Thanks God almighty that his third term agenda did not work.

Until Captain Billy Eko Jean was caught at the JFK airport the most lucrative rout of Nigerian airways we did not know that he was a Ghanaian. Until the deportation of Shugaba during the presidential election by Shagari we did not know that he was from Niger republic. Until the deportation of Patrick Wilmot to Jamaica he was a darling at Ahmadu Bello University. Until the maitasine massacre at Kano nobody told us that their leader Mohammed was from Cameroun. Until the crashing of the Faulkner 28 aircraft at Enugu airport we did not know that the captain was a Ghanaian. At a point it was rumoured that Ibrahim Comatose the former IG was a Ghanaian. Despite these episodes our government have not considered it wise to draw a comprehensive list of Nigerians.

How can any responsible leader draw a program for a country that he does not know how many they are? There is neither registration of birth nor death. Nigeria is the only country where a human being will die and decay along the road. It takes nothing to install one computer in every local government to start gradual record keeping of Nigerians and stop the gigantic census project that is organized at intervals without result. The people that die in road accident every day are more than the people that die of illness every month. We spend more money for HIV campaign every year than in the maintaining of Nigerian roads. We have no light, no portable water, no roads, no security yet we pretend that investors will come to invest in Nigeria. Investors are not looking for chaotic situations, they are looking for stable government, open market economy, conducive social and economic conditions and basic amenities to invest. Until we have these things in place the wild goose chase after investor will never materialise. Just yesterday Goodluck said that we have 25,000 Nigerian doctors in United States alone. I wonder if Goodluck is so naïve to understand that if these doctors have accepted to live in foreign land under the harsh realities, the thought of investor coming to Nigerian is an illusion. My fear then is that Olusegun Aganga the investment minister does not understand these simple principles of international trade probably because he was trained as an accountant. The blatant truth is that we have lost the train and at 51 the Nigerian project is as best a failed one. The succeeding generation are the worst losers as they are going to inherit this chattered nation. Though they have no blame but they have no choice. Nothing is being done to leave a bequeathing legacy for the succeeding generation and the mere thought that they will inherit this disaster is traumatic. Tragically nobody has a choice in the decision of where he will be born. We are all victims of the circumstances of our birth.

Good time.

Paul Okoye

Visit me @ www.paulokoye.com

^^^^^^
^^^^^^
Captain John Billy-Eko was from Ghana
and he flew the Nigeria Airways Boeing 747
to Newyork in 1987.